Naha Police Chief Tatsuji Yamanoha presented a framed letter of appreciation and an inscribed glass memento to Sgt. Joshua Rule, a motor vehicle operator with Marine Tactical Air Control Squadron 18, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, during the ceremony.

The Naha police recognized Rule for his role in apprehending and detaining a thief on Kokusai Street during an Eisa festival around 7.p.m.

"Rule took a lot of risk in a dangerous situation, and we wanted to praise his braveness," said Capt. Takashi Shuri, chief for the 3rd Division of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Naha Police Station. "He helped solve the case quickly."

Rule said all he could think about was that an old man just got robbed.

"I heard a man yell, and then I saw the thief running," he said. "The man was reaching out helplessly yelling 'thief' in Japanese. As soon as I knew what happened, I had to do something. The victim's face looked so helpless. He needed someone to help him."

Rule chased the man in and out of alleys for a few minutes before receiving some help from Hiroo Nakazato, a local dentist.

"Hiroo Nakazato and I both tackled the purse snatcher at the same time," he said. "Let's just say he forgot his landing gear that day."

Nakazato and Rule detained the suspect while Rule's friend called the local police.

"Seconds later Japanese police cars swarmed the scene and apprehended the suspect," Rule said. "It looked similar to a cops and robbers scene in a foreign film."

According to the police report, more than $2,500 in yen was recovered from the suspect.